My week has been good. And intense. To help me relax and stretch out I took a lovely yoga class. Candlelit and delicious.
http://www.mamazenpdx.com/
I got a sweet Christmas package that reminded me that love and hope are what the season brings you when you least expect it.
Merry Christmas to you.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Gratitude
These past few days have been filled with friends. Combine that with a new book I'm listening to about gratitude and the Advent daily reflections and I just come up realizing how much I have to be grateful for....so many blessings.
For my family. For my honey and reinta. Who teach me about lessons about love that still need learning.
For my health. Amen to walking, dancing, and all the things I wasn't doing a year ago today.
For my friends, who fill my life with celebration, comfort, a hand, a shoulder and a good laugh. All depending on the day and person.
For a good job and health benefits. I never take such a thing for granted in these days.
For a safe and lovely home to rest my head, and abundant food.
For peace in my heart.
Gracias y amen.
For my family. For my honey and reinta. Who teach me about lessons about love that still need learning.
For my health. Amen to walking, dancing, and all the things I wasn't doing a year ago today.
For my friends, who fill my life with celebration, comfort, a hand, a shoulder and a good laugh. All depending on the day and person.
For a good job and health benefits. I never take such a thing for granted in these days.
For a safe and lovely home to rest my head, and abundant food.
For peace in my heart.
Gracias y amen.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
More music
Pandora unearths yet another gem.
A band called Bacilos that I love...their music makes my heart happy. Lead singer sounds like Silvio Rodriquez, one of my favorites. Bummer is that the band disbanded. Sniff.
A band called Bacilos that I love...their music makes my heart happy. Lead singer sounds like Silvio Rodriquez, one of my favorites. Bummer is that the band disbanded. Sniff.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
Back to the past
I'm in the throes of 2 books right now at two ends of the historical novel spectrum.
One is "The Other Boleyn Girl," which explores the intrigue of Henry VIII's court through the eyes of Ann Boleyn's sister (who had an affair with the King before he romanced and married her sister). It's a rich tapestry, full of heartbreak, drama, and real history...all embedded in a love story, one that was lost in the history books amidst all the wives of Henry and beheadings. I'm listening to it in the car and wish that a long road trip was in my future. It is fantastic and a perfect read for an addict of the Tudor's television series. I am totally addicted, btw. One clear subtext of the book and series is that it sucks to be female back in those dark days. Even a rich and beautiful woman was nothing more than chattel. This is no exaggeration.
If you want to learn more, here is the author's very compleat website:
http://www.philippagregory.com/
The other audio book I'm listening to is "Sarah's Key," which I listen to as my bedside listening. It tells the tales of the actual roundup of French Jews in Paris through the eyes of a Jewish girl alternating with that of a contemporary American journalist living in Paris who is digging into this real historical event. You sense that these two lives are going to meet in the middle somewhere. I'm waiting to see where. It is a bit jarring to jump between the Jewish girl's story, as she is fighting for her life, and the American who has suffered very little by such standards. A cheating husband seems paltry compared to genocide. I come away not liking the journalist very much and wanting to find out more about the little girl.
I realize how much I love reading about the lives of women, stories rooted in historical events.....
One is "The Other Boleyn Girl," which explores the intrigue of Henry VIII's court through the eyes of Ann Boleyn's sister (who had an affair with the King before he romanced and married her sister). It's a rich tapestry, full of heartbreak, drama, and real history...all embedded in a love story, one that was lost in the history books amidst all the wives of Henry and beheadings. I'm listening to it in the car and wish that a long road trip was in my future. It is fantastic and a perfect read for an addict of the Tudor's television series. I am totally addicted, btw. One clear subtext of the book and series is that it sucks to be female back in those dark days. Even a rich and beautiful woman was nothing more than chattel. This is no exaggeration.
If you want to learn more, here is the author's very compleat website:
http://www.philippagregory.com/
The other audio book I'm listening to is "Sarah's Key," which I listen to as my bedside listening. It tells the tales of the actual roundup of French Jews in Paris through the eyes of a Jewish girl alternating with that of a contemporary American journalist living in Paris who is digging into this real historical event. You sense that these two lives are going to meet in the middle somewhere. I'm waiting to see where. It is a bit jarring to jump between the Jewish girl's story, as she is fighting for her life, and the American who has suffered very little by such standards. A cheating husband seems paltry compared to genocide. I come away not liking the journalist very much and wanting to find out more about the little girl.
I realize how much I love reading about the lives of women, stories rooted in historical events.....
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Gardening in December
Well there is no planting going on, but I did get in some quality time with cleaning up the frost-bitten plants that need to go. Dahlias, sunflower stalks and the like. There was sweeping and general tidying up, plus repotting houseplants. Restocked the bird feeders and cleaned the birdbath, to keep all those lovely creatures going during this cold snap.
It all looks very nice, and oh so satisfying.
I just need to take a picture!
It all looks very nice, and oh so satisfying.
I just need to take a picture!
Friday, December 4, 2009
Appreciating
The question of looking at the cup as half full or empty is buzzing in my head more than I want at times. If sadness is an occasional companion, gratitude is the stealthy one coming behind, nudging.
Advent is our time for reflection, and my mom's gift of the Advent Little Book has given me daily scriptures that touch so close to home it zings. Having faith and trusting that the path given is the one the Lord has chosen. Elizabeth. Gabriel.
So there you have it. I pray for faith, for comfort, in gratitude for blessings I recognize and those I don't really appreciate enough, truth be told. What do you pray for? Do you pray?
Advent is our time for reflection, and my mom's gift of the Advent Little Book has given me daily scriptures that touch so close to home it zings. Having faith and trusting that the path given is the one the Lord has chosen. Elizabeth. Gabriel.
So there you have it. I pray for faith, for comfort, in gratitude for blessings I recognize and those I don't really appreciate enough, truth be told. What do you pray for? Do you pray?
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